Friends with Benefits Movie Review 07-25-2011 - by Larry Lopez, Staff Mumbler Over the weekend I watched Friends with Benefits staring Mila Kunis as Jamie and Justin Timberlake as Dylan. It is another cheesy, romantic, feel-good comedy, but I loved it. I would rate it a 4 out of 5.
The last time I checked, I am a dude. Things like Sex in the City make me queasy and I try to avoid
anything with Matthew McConaughey in it. The cheap, shallow, tailor made for women to go see, no plot line movies are insulting to most people with a pulse. If you're a guy, sitting through these types of movies will make you want to step in front of a train. That said, to be fair, not all "chick flicks" are like that.
Hey, I loved Forgetting Sarah Marshall!
I go into the chick movies with an open mind. To be honest, when I went to see Friends with Benefits, I figured that, if the movie sucked, at least I would get to see a whole lot of Mila Kunis. I usually go into the movie, starting it off with five stars and deducting stars for cheesiness and predictability, amoung other things.
Without spoiling things for you, there was a little bit of sadness in this film with regard to Dylan's dad, Mr. Harper, played by Richard Jenkins. The family situation of both Dylan and Jamie was fairly realistic and indicative of a lot of American families (meaning messed up). This movie manages to turn some ugly situations into happiness with a heavy dose of humor. There are some great, and very funny, lines in the movie. I want to watch it again because I forgot what they were! However, I would (will) watch Friends with Benefits again. I loved it. I know that Justin Timberlake breaking out into
the Kriss Kross song was on the trailer, but it still had me laughing during the movie. Shaun White has a pretty funny part in it as well.
On to the obligatory gay guy. Usually I'm bored to death with the inclusion of the "funny gay friend". They're here, they're queer, lets move on and stop exploiting gays in a weak attempt to make your movie more controversial. Guess what? It's not controversial anymore! Although Friends with Benefits did have the gay friend, it didn't feel like a cheap attempt to save the movie. Woody Harrelson was brilliant and funny as hell. His crass, in-your-face, humor was enough to make any straight guy want to drink beers with him. I would have taken points off for the obligatory gay guy, but this worked well for the movie.
There was an element of predictability in the movie and I did take a point off for that, but there was no way around that. The movie is a romantic comedy and not an intellectual thriller, so predictability comes with the territory. I will give the movie major kudos however, as one of my biggest predictions did not materialize at the end of the film. I was relieved.
This movie will appeal strongly to people in their 30's and 40's but, just like Office Space, I think the 50-somethings are going to hate it and will not be able to relate to it very well (just a hunch). If you're in the mood for a very funny, lighthearted, romantic comedy, grab a date and go see it. Don't forget to stop back by this page and let me know what you thought of it.
